What is falafel and how to cook it at home

National dishes from different countries actively replenish the cookbooks of good housewives. One of the oriental dishes that every family will surely like is falafel. In the article I will tell you what falafel is, how to cook it from chickpeas, I will consider varieties and calorie content.

Falafel - what is it?

ON A NOTE! The dish with the unusual name "falafel" is very popular in Israel and in all Arab countries. It is a fried chickpea balls with seasonings.

According to an old legend, for the first time, chickpea balls were served in Israel during strict posts to replace meat. For many years, he became so fond of him that he became not just a national dish, but a kind of symbol of the state. Every tourist is obliged to try it, after all, both wealthy businessmen and ordinary students love this universal treat.

Useful advice before cooking

The main ingredient of the classic falafel is chickpeas.To preserve its beneficial properties as much as possible, you can replace the traditional method of cooking - frying in oil, with a simpler one - roasting in the oven. It is enough to grease the baking sheet with olive oil, put the chickpea patties and bake for half an hour.

How to cook classic chickpea falafel

The streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv cannot be imagined without the aromas of falafel. The main ingredient is chickpeas. It is used after soaking and raw. - leguminous plant, oily fruits which have a pleasant nutty flavor.

Anyone who has decided to cook a dish for the first time at home should master a classic recipe that will become the basis for further experiments.

Hummus Falafel

Falafel prepared according to the traditional recipe will acquire a new taste thanks to hummus. To make hummus paste you will need boiled chickpeas, sesame paste, garlic, juice of half a lemon, olive oil, salt and spices to taste. Ingredients are mixed into a homogeneous mass. She smears a bun or pita.

Recipe for delicious falafel in pita bread

Falafel in pita is very popular with Syrians. The dish is very satisfying, inexpensive and does not require much time for cooking. In the cities of eastern countries it is prepared right in front of customers. The recipe in pita is similar to the famous shawarma - a kind of oriental fast food. However, unlike popular fast food, it is not harmful, but useful and nutritious.Equally well combined with a glass of beer, and with your favorite juice.

After reading about the merits of dishes in pita, everyone probably wanted to cook it at home. It is easy!

Ingredients:

pita;

Falafel (first recipe);

fresh or pickled cucumbers;

a tomato;

parsley, basil, mint;

Bulgarian pepper;

hummus;

tahina;

sour cream / mayonnaise;

How to cook:

Prepare the vegetables - we cut cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and greens into thin strips. Pita bread with a thin layer of sour cream or mayonnaise.

You can cook a delicious sauce, mixed in equal parts sour cream with mayonnaise.

On the pita bread, carefully lay out the vegetables, herbs and, of course, falafel, which can be a little flat.

On top of all poured hummus, you can add a little sesame paste.

It remains to roll the resulting creation, as shawarma, a straw.

A simple recipe for lentils

Falafel will not lose its beneficial qualities, if you replace the main component - chickpeas, with no less nutritious lentils. The difference between lentils is that it is less soft and crumbly, and the balls come out more dense, better keep their shape.

Ingredients:

400-500 gr. lentils;

100 gr. Luke;

greens (parsley, cilantro);

5-6 cloves of garlic;

1 tspcoriander;

1 tsp cumin;

1 tbsp. l olive oil;

juice of half a lemon;

2 tbsp. l flour;

salt, red and black pepper to taste.

Cooking:

Soak the lentils overnight, and boil for half an hour in the morning, cool and grind in a blender until smooth.

To the lentils add flour, spices, olive oil and mix again to the consistency of mashed potatoes.

From the mass of blind balls or small patties, put on a preheated pan and fry until golden brown.

TIP! For frying, it is better to use coconut oil, it emits less carcinogens and odor.

Video recipe

Calorie content

Traditional falafel diet not name. Chickpeas have a high content of easily digestible protein. For this quality he is especially loved in hot countries. Nutritional value per 100 grams:

proteins - 13.9 g;

fats 4.8 g;

carbohydrates - 43.3 g

In 100 grams of falafel 264 kcal.This is a lot, so do not eat it for dinner. For lunch or lunch - a great option that will provide energy and perfectly satisfy hunger.

Loading ...

Falafel is an excellent dish to show culinary skills and to delight loved ones.